Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Pride in cancer care
7 October 2026
Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS) has been awarded £105,110 to help improve cancer care for LGBTQIA+ people The CARE grant from Macmillan Cancer Support will help deliver lasting improvements to local cancer care and support services. Macmillan CARE grants are a new initiative by the national cancer charity, as they work to make cancer care better ...
Free workplace mental health training from The Charlie Waller Trust
7 October 2026
Managing for Good Mental Health – free training for Berkshire’s charity and voluntary sector Good people management can make a significant difference to the wellbeing of individuals, teams and organisations. However, managers can sometimes find conversations about mental health difficult, particularly when situations require additional sensitivity. This practical workshop will help managers build the confidence, skills and ...
Council Tax Support Scheme consultation – open until 19 November 2026
7 October 2026
Reading Borough Council is proposing to replace its current Council Tax Support Scheme for working-age residents with a new simplified income-banded scheme from April 2027: the Council Tax Support Scheme, which helps people on low incomes pay their council tax. The current system was designed for an older welfare system and no longer works efficiently alongside ...
Stop Hate Helpline – a new support service for residents
6 October 2026
Ahead of Hate Crime Awareness Week, 10–18 October 2026, we have launched the Stop Hate Helpline in Reading, run by Stop Hate UK. The Helpline is a live and confidential 24-hour service for anyone who has experienced prejudice or been targeted because of any aspect of their identity. A Hate Crime is any criminal offence that ...
Community Awards – nominate by 9 October 2026
6 October 2026
This week is your last chance to submit your nominations for the Community Awards! The final day for nominations is Friday, 9 October 2026. We are particularly looking for nominations for the following award categories, which are currently missing nominations: Community Education and Digital Inclusion Award Inspirational Young People Award Community Advice, Legal Support and Advocacy Award Aliana Young Person’s Award Community ...
Free music DJing, broadcasting and music production workshops for young people
5 October 2026
Gold Dust Hub CIC are hosting a series of free workshops (4 weeks) in Reading designed to give young people a hands-on, inspiring introduction to the worlds of basic DJing, broadcasting, and music production. This program is a fantastic way for young people to discover their creative potential and gain real-world experience in a warm, safe, ...
RBC Micro Grants Fund 2026–27 – deadline 13 November 2026
5 October 2026
Reading Borough Council has launched this Micro Grants Programme, which offers £250 or £500 to support grassroots groups and individuals get started, test new ideas, or grow existing creative projects. Who is eligible to apply? Applications are welcome from: individuals, informal groups or small organisations people who live in or work with communities in Whitley and Church wards in ...
RBC Small Grants Fund 2026–27 – deadline 13 November 2026
5 October 2026Reading Borough Council has allocated £150k for small grants to the voluntary and community sector for the year 2026–27. Who is eligible to apply? To be eligible, applicants must: be a registered charity or a not for profit organisation have a gross annual income below £100k not have already received £20k from an RBC grant during 2025/2026 be applying to deliver ...
Older Person’s Day – 1 October 2026, Broad Street Mall
23 September 2026
Reading’s Older Persons’ Day event takes place on Thursday 1 October, from 9.30am to 2pm in Broad Street Mall There will be over 30 stalls on the ground and first floor of the Broad Street Mall with specialist advice and support aimed at older people, their families and friends. Organisations you can speak to on the ...
Common Ground Award – capital funding – deadline 12 October 2026
23 September 2026
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a further round of the Common Ground Award to invest capital funding into Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations. The fund is targeted at organisations supporting social connections across and between different communities and will support the cost of constructing or renovating ...
The Branding Project 2027 from the University of Reading is open for applications
22 September 2026
Are you a new charity looking to establish a brand identity but lacking the resources to do so? Or are you a not-for-profit in need of a brand refresh or re-positioning and would welcome some input from students at The University of Reading? The Department of Typography at the University of Reading will be holding a ...
Police and Crime Commissioner Thames Valley Community Fund – closes on 28 September 2026
22 September 2026
The Community Fund supports voluntary and community groups that help to prevent crime and keep communities safe. Money for the Community Fund, which is jointly managed by the PCC and the Chief Constable, is created from the proceeds from the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owners. The Fund is ...
RCLC celebrate 10 years of charity good governance accreditation!
16 September 2026
We are delighted to share that Reading Community Learning Centre have recently undergone an external review of their governance as a charity, achieving a continuation of their Safe and Sound Award and celebrating 10 years of continuously maintaining this award. What a fabulous achievement, demonstrating a significant commitment from the whole team. The revised Safe and ...
Community Awards – 29 October 2026
10 September 2026The Celebrating Community Awards is a special event dedicated to recognising, celebrating and appreciating the incredible individuals, volunteers, community groups and organisations who work tirelessly to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Every day, people across our communities give their time, skills, compassion and energy to support others. Some provide a listening ear, ...
Our summer intern’s research exploring career pathways into the voluntary sector
9 September 2026
This summer we were delighted to welcome Charlotte Simms, a second-year Politics and International Relations student at the University of Reading, as a research intern. Read Charlotte’s farewell message below – report to follow soon: As my internship with Reading Voluntary Action comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to say a huge ...
Faith Security Training now available
9 September 2026
The Home Office has launched Faith Security Training (FST) – a free scheme designed to help faith communities across England and Wales strengthen their security awareness and preparedness. Delivered by CDS Support, this training provides practical guidance to keep places of worship safe and resilient. Who should attend? Faith leaders, trustees, volunteers, and anyone responsible for, or ...
New recycling point for unused community equipment
9 September 2026
Working in partnership with Reading Borough Council, re3 and Millbrook Healthcare, a dedicated community equipment recycling point has now been established at the re3 Recycling Centre on Island Road, Reading RG2 0RP, where Reading residents can recycle unused health and social care equipment and help other people in our community. Residents should book a visit to ...
Building Connections training – free online short course for grassroots organisations
9 September 2026
Free online short course for grassroots organisations on the Tackling Loneliness Hub Dates: 22 and 24 September | 11:30am – 1pm How can we build connections and more resilient communities, leading to a more harmonious society? You may already have a pretty good idea, but this training intends to make you feel even more confident and emboldened to ...
Barbershop Uncut Stories
9 September 2026
What really happens when you go into the barbershop? The jokes. The banter. The debates. The advice nobody asked for. The conversations that only happen in the barber’s chair. But what happens when one of those conversations takes an unexpected turn? Men, masculinity, family, health and the conversations that we don’t always have, take centre stage in Reading ...
Help create a new community garden at Whitley Wood Community Centre
9 September 2026
We’re building a new community garden at Whitley Wood Community Centre, and we’re inviting members of the local community to come along and get involved. Ultimately, we hope to build a community garden which is both a space for centre users and local residents to come and relax, and also a space where local residents ...